'Pride and Prejudice' - Characters

Question 1

Fitzwilliam Darcy:

Answer 1

• Proud and prejudiced - he refuses to dance with Elizabeth at the Meryton ball because she was “not handsome eneough to tempt” him.
• Reserved and misunderstood - people view him as haughty and arrogant at the Netherfield ball when in actual fact his nature is of a more subdued type and he isn’t as exuberant as the other guests.
• Affectionate and caring - when Georgiana and Lydia eloped with Wickham, he did everything he could to save his sister, and save the Bennets from disgrace in society.
• Cordial and amiable - when he meets Elizabeth at Pemberly is is extrememly friendly and agreeable.

Question 2

Jane Bennet:

Answer 2

• Elegant and amiable - her beauty and kind heartedness immediately attracted the attention of Bingley at the Meryton ball.
• Compassionate and unbiased - she always believes there must be a good and kind side to every person, including Wickham when she finds out about his past!
• Trusting and optimistic - when Bingley leaves to go to town, Janey follows him to London and stays with the Gardiners. Here her trusting nature was used against her as Caroline Bingley’s true colours were revealed.
• Selfless - wishes Elizabeth to be as happy as herself when she becomes engaged, in her special moment.

Question 3

Charles Bingley:

Answer 3

• Amiable and jubilant - his cheerfulness is displayed at the Meryton ball as he makes himself acquainted with everyone present and danced every dance.
• Devoted and loving - once Darcy explains to him that he parted him with Jane because he thought she didn’t love him, was only after his wealth, he goes straight to Longbourn and proposes.
• Genteel and polite - his proposal to Jane was very formal. He asked Mr Bennet’s permission and was very polite about it all.

Question 4

Mr Wickham:

Answer 4

• Deceitful and mercenary - he tried to elope with both Georgiana and Lydia, manipulating them into eloping so he could have money(Georgiana) and ruin the Bennet reputation, or perhaps because he knew Darcy would pay his debts(Lydia).
• Sociable and charming - he has brilliant people skills and uses his charms to spread untrue rumours about Darcy and get his own way.

Question 5

Lady Catherine de Bourgh:

Answer 5

• Intimidating, formidable and superior - her word is so important and superior to so many that hear her, Maria Lucas even re-packed her bags at Hunsford because she suggested a different method of packing.
• Impertinent and conceited - she speaks to Elizabeth in such a condescending manner regarding her family, connections and upbringing.

Question 6

Mrs Bennet:

Answer 6

• Ecstatic and persistent - when she finds out Mr Bingley is coming to Netherfield she is ecstatic and insists Mr Bennet goes to see him and won’t give up until he does.
• Humiliating with poor scruples - she makes her opinion of Darcy known to all, and him himself, and embarrasses the whole family by letting her children run wild and is very impertinent to Darcy at the end, not knowing he has bribed Wickham to marry her daughter.

Question 7

Mr Collins:

Answer 7

• A comic figure - his character is one of ridicule in the novel, as he never speaks to the point and perpetually name-drops Lady Catherine.
• Easily satisfied - he gets engaged with Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s best friend, three days after proposed to Elizabeth.

Question 8

Elizabeth Bennet:

Answer 8

• Intellectual and witty - opposing Lady Catherine as an equal.
• Proud and prejudiced - she takes so long to look past her first impression of Darcy and admit she does love him.
• Iconoclastic and satirical - will never marry unless it is for love, never for money.
• Loyal - she goes to see Jane at Netherfield and stay with her while she recovers from illness. Very loyal to loved ones.